Machine fob forming storage-battery jars



A. WILLARD.

MACHINE FOR FORMING STORAGE BATTERY JARS.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, me.

latentodSCpfl 2, 1919;

5 SHEETSSHEET l- T. A. WILL'ARD.

MACHINE FOR FORMING STORAGE BATTERY JARS- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25'I916. H

Patcntudbopt. 2, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2 gmvwa.

T. AIWILLARD. 1 MACHINE FOR FORMING STORAGE BATTERY JARS.

APPLICATION men 'FEB. 25. ms. w

. Inhsntodbcpt. 2, 1919.

5 SHiZETS-SHEET 3.

mun

l illlli T; A. WILLARD. MACHINE FOR FORMING STORAGE BATTERY JARS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25.!916. 1,314,627. "PatentedSept. 2,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

T. A. WILLARD.

MACHINE FOR FORMING STORAGE BATTERY JARS.

APPLICATION FILED'FEB. 25. ms.

1,314,627, 1.:1tv-ntmlSP1fi. 2, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- THEODORE A. WILLARD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

MACHINE FOR FORMING STORAGE-BATTERY inns.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed February 25, 1916. Seria1.No. 80.548.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, THEODORE A. WIL- LARI). a citizen ofthe UnitedSatcs, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented'a certain -new and useful Improvement in Machinesfor Forming storagerBattery Jars, of which the following. is a full,clear, and exact description.

' particularly cured rubber.

the corners than at other points and is without seams or joints. Afurther object is to accomplish this in such a manner that there is aminimum loss due to defective jars, and so that the jars can be formedrapidly without requiring skilled or expensive labor or a fine qualityof rubber which has been required heretofore with the hand methods.

More generally considered, it is the object of this invention to providean efiicient jar making machine which produces jars whic are better thanthose produced by the hand methods, and which is economical in the sensethat it permits jars to be formed much more cheaply than with the handmethods. In the machine constructed in accordance with'thepresentinvention I utilize a plurality of dies or plungers' which are arranged,opposite the sides and over the-top :ef the mandrel, and actuate thesedies by mechamcal means which causes the dies to compress the materialthe desired extent to produce practically perfect jars. Asan otherfeature of the invention the dies are provided with normally bowedspring metal faces which serve to press the air out from between themandrel and the rubber or between the rubber andthe 'dies, and. alsopre- I vent the die sticking to the'rubber when the dies are retracted,and further they not only formthe corners, but at their longitudinaledges cut' or trim off the surplus rubber so as to minimize the grindingwhich is to be doneto produce a jar with a smooth ex terior.

The invention consists further in certain novel details of constructionand combination and arrangement of parts which includes themanner ofactuating the dies, manner of mounting them for purposes of adjustment,and other features which will be described in the specification and setforth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view ofthe major portion of the machine; Fig. 2-is a side view viewed from theright of Fig. 1,; Fig. 3 is a side view viewed from the left of Fig. 2;Fig. 4 is a sectional View substantially along the line 4--4 of Fig'. 1looking in the direc tion indicated by the arrows; Fig. 5 is a sectionalview substantially along the line- 55 of Fig. 1 looking in the directionindicated by the arrow; Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view throughthe mandrel and horizontally movable dies with the latter partlyretracted; Fig. 7 is a similar view after the dies have been actuated;Fig. 8 is a sectional view through'one of the die faces showing the sameon an enlarged scale; Fig. 9 is-a sectional view substantiallyalong theline 9--9 of Fig. 1 looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows; andFig. 10 is a top plan view of one of the parts of. a die carrier.

The machine includes-a horizontal bed 10 mounted on suitable legs 11 andsupporting all the operating mechanism. Adapted to be supported on atongue of one of the dies in a manner to be hereinafter explained, is amandrel which is illustrated at 12. .Ar-

ranged opposite'the upright faces or the" posite' the other two-sides ofthe mandrel.

. 0 3 amed that-is, downwardly, toward the mandrel,

or upwardly away from the mandrel.

"In the preferred embodiment of my 1n vention, four of the dies arepower-actuated,

and "one of the horizontally movable dies,

in this case the die 13, is hand-actuated.

This hand-actuated 'die' 13 is connected to a (he carrier or basecomposed of two parts 20 and 21 which slide in a guideway 22. of'

thebase and are connected by a screw 23 which normally holds the twoparts inpredetermined relative positions, but when turned adjusts theposition of the forward part 20 with reference to the rear part21 aswhen jars offidiflerent sizes are to be formed. carrier or support isprovided with a forwardly projecting tongue 24 on which the mandrel issupported 'durlng the jar forming operation. the mandrel with rubberapplied to the faces thereofwill be placed 011 the tongue 24- when thedie is retracted and thence the operator will shove the die togetherwith the two I parts of the die support forwardlyto opera tive position,and will thence lock the die in place. The locking means here shownincludes a locking cam 25 mounted on a shaft 26 and adapted to extend upinto "registering slots in the base 10 and in the lower part {Of therear part 21 of the die carrier.

A handle 27 or other suitable operating memher at the outer end of theshaft 26 perof these lastmentioned dies is carried by atwo-partdlecarrler including a lower part mits the die support: to -be locked orunlocked. In adjusting the two parts relatively the rear part 21 will belocked-so that when the hand screw is turned only the front part 20 ofthe die carrier and the die will be moved. 1

The otherthree horizontally movable dies are likewisecapable, ofadjustment to vary the limits of movement of the dies as they are movedinwardly and outwardly. 'Each 30 and an up'perpart 31, both of which arenormally relatively fixed 'in position and are adapted to be moved backand forward-in aguideway ofthe bed. The lower part30 of the the carrierhas a roller support 32 which projects upwardly through a rectangular.shaped opening 32 in the upper part 81 of the die carrier. This rollersupport and the manner ofactuating the dies will be referred topresently. Furthermore, the two parts 30- and31 can beadjusted Theforward'part 20 of the die In operating the machine relatively to varythe limits of movement of the die, that is, the position of the diewhenat its innermost positionand the position'of the die when at itsoutermost position, by means of a screw or threaded shaft 33, having avthreadedpart passing through the roller support 32, and passing throughan upst-anding part 84 of theupper part of the. die carrier. This shaftwhich may be provided at its outer end'with a hand wheel 35 can beturned to adjust the position of the the relative to the roller supportwhen it is desired to vary the size of the ars which are formed on themachine. It will be understood that the co'nstruction'of the diesupports for the dies 14,15,16, will be precisely like that described,and that the three dies can beadjusted in precisely the same manner. Itmay b'e-stated, however,

that while I have shown separate hand operated adjusting screws for allthe dies,

the two oppositely disposed dies15 and 16 may be adjustedsimultaneously-by a shaft extending beneath the bed of the machine.

inasmuch as when one of these dies is adjusted the other die will beadjusted an exactly similar amount.

The upper die 17 is carried by-a die holder composed of alower part 37and an upper T part- 38, which are capable of relative adjustment bymeans of ascrew or threaded shaft 39-. These elements of the die supportmove I vertically-in a guidewaywhich-is directly above the mandrel whenin operative position in the machine, said guideway being formed in aportion of a standard 40 projecting upwardly from the frame, asshownparticu larly in Figs. 24111615., The lower part Of. v the standard 40"is bifurcated. forming a space for the rear -die14 and the operatingmechanism therefor.

Preferably the dies 13, 14,15,16, 17, are

provided on their faces withspring metal faces 42 normally convex. orbowed .out-

wardly at the middle, as shown particularly in Fig. 8. Each of thesespring metal die faces is secured to the corresponding die by pins orbolts 43,- two of which are preferably employedhaving at their innerends heads which are adapted to move in recesses 44 in the die so thatwhen the jar is compressed the die, faces can flatten. The inner ends ofthe pins 43 are preferably flush with the die faces, so as not to extendbeyond the inner surface, that 1s, the surface faclng.

the rubber or mandrel. These die faces per- 1 form several functionswhich include forcmg out the air from between the diefaces and rubberand from between the rubber and mandrel. They also prevent the rubbersti.cking to the die-when the die is retracted for the reason that asthe die is retracted th'e edge-portions of the die face first leave therubber, and finally the middle portion leaves the rubber; These diefaces also shape or form the corners of the ar, and

, in a preferred embodiment of my invention the upright edges of the diefaces act as blades 01' cutters to cut or trun off the overflow rubberat the corners of the jar, as illustrated inEig. 7. l-Vhile these springmetal ,die faces are preferably employed, they are not essential tothesuccessful operation t the machine. By facing the rubber with tin therubber will not stick to the dies.

Between each die and the upright part of,

the corresponding die carrier 1' provide yieldable connecting means suchas a strip or sheet of rubber 15 which may be provided with perforationsto enhance its elasticity,

so that in spite of the fact that the dies are actuated 'nwardlypredetermined distances, the (he faces or diesproper admit of slightinequalities in the thickness of the rubber without any breakage ordeformation of the jar being formed.

The four dies, except the hand operated die 13, are power-operated, asbefore stated, and preferably they are operated by me chanieal meanswhich moves the dies inwardly a predetermined or fixed distance,

r and thence outwardly a fixed or definite distance. 3 0

The mechanism for operating the dies in this case includes a power shaft49 to which power may be applied by any suitable means, such as by apulley: 50. This f shaft 49 is geared to a horizontal shaft 51 a 7'which extends over the bed and which through bevel gearing 52 drives apair of shafts 53 which actuate the two oppositely disposed dies 15 and16. These shafts are 1 provided with die actuating cams 54, eacharranged between rollers 55 which are a predetermined distance apartandare supported upper die is actuatedthrough gears 60, 61, 62, whichconnect'the shaft 51 to a shaft63 at the top of the standard 40 and by acam 64 whiehismounted on the shaft 63 within the upper die supportingpart 38 in the manner illustrated particularly in-Fig. 5.

The shaft 49 which is continuously operated whereas the other dieactuating shafts are preferably intermittently operated, is connected tothe shaft 51 through gearing and through the medium of a clutch which inFig, 2 is designated as a whole by the.

reference character 65. .This clutch is actuated by a, clutch pedal 6rlever'66 normally held or pulled upward'ly by a spring 67 to unclntchthe shafts 49 and 51 and is adapted to be depressed by the operator tocause the .at any desired posltions. As the shaft 49 to drive the shaft51 as well as the the other parts of the die actuating mechamsm.

In the operation of the machine above described the-operator will. placeon the tongue 24 of the die support for the hand actuatcddle 13 amandrel to which are a1):

plied sheets or slabs of rubber; Five separate slabs of rubber may beapplied, four to the sides and one over the top, or a less number may.beemployed, asfor example, three slabs, in which event one 'will extendalong the sidesand over the top and the other two will be placed againstthe other a two opposite sides. After the mandrel with the rubberapplied thereto is placed-on the tongue 24 the operator will move thedie 13 and mandrel inwardly from the retracted position of the die totheoperative position and will lock the die in the latter position: bythe locking means 25, 26 and 27. He will then depress the clutch lever66, whereupon the other dies will'be operated. The

latter may be-operated either simultaneously or successively, it beingpossible to actuate thedies at the same time or in any desiredpredetermined order by,'properly positioning the due actuating cams,which ma. be set actuated they compress the rubber and forin the cornersof the jar, uniting the slabs ies are at the corners in such awaythatwhen-the jar is vulcanized there is absolutely no evidence of a seam oroint, and in forming the corners the rubber is pressed inwardly so as toform fillets on the inside of the jar or at the corners thereof. Thefact that the fillets are formed and the fact that the slabs of rubberare united so effectively at their edges or at the corners of the jar,cause the ]ar to be even stronger at the corners than at any otherpoint, as is proven in practice.

With the hand-operated methods a fillet' could not be formed, nor couldthe joints or seams be made without causing the jar to be a weakest atthe corners and at the scams or Joints.

After the top mandrel is forced downward in the, manner above explained,so as to the i nermost positions for a predetermined inter "al of timeso as to allow the rubber to set and form the corners.' There is, howover, very little fiowof rubber, there being form I fhe top of the jar,all dies are held in just enough flow to form the corners and to apermit the slight overflow which usually takes place. The order in whichthe rams are actuated and the length of time that the rubber is undercompression by all the dies determined by the shape and the positioningof the die actuating cams.

After the dies are retracted the operator will remove his foot from theclutch lever 66, whereupon the dies remain stationary the "ne formed butstilliunvulcanized jar from the machine and will place on the tongue 24another mandrel to which the rubber' has been applied. After the jarsare formed on the mandrels in the manner above explained they will beplaced in a vulcanizerand will be vulcanized to harden the rubber andcause the-rubber to be thoroughly'knit "together where united by thedies.

. It is to be noted that the edges of the spring metalfaces trim off thesurplus or 4 overflow rubber as the saidfaces are flat- 20. battery jarsfrom uncured rubber, a bed, a mandrel, rams arranged opposite theupright sldes and top of the mandrel, one of tened thus eliminating orat least minimizing grindingnecessary for the production of jarswithsmooth exterlor surfaces;

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is j 1, In a machinefor formlng storage said rams being manually movable forward andrearward, means .for locking or holding said mandrel in its forwardposition, and power mechanism for actuating the remain der of the ramsandserving to move the tery jars from uncured rubber, abed, a. 'mandrel,a support for the mandrel, rams same predetermined distances relative tothe mandrel. H

2. In a machine for forming storage bat arranged opposite the sides andtop of the mandrel and adapted to compress the rub-' ber against-thefaces thereof, power mechan smvfor actuating certain of the rams, saidrams being composed of a plurality of parts, yieldable material beingarranged between two of the parts and two of'the parts being relativelyadjustable, one of the last men tion'ed'parts being engaged by the power.mechanism and the other being between said part and the rubber to becompressed.

1 3. In a maehinefor-forming storage battery jars and the like, a bed, amandrel,

rams or dies arranged" opposite the faces.

of the mandrel and adapted to compress material against the facesthereof, rotary cams for actuating ,part of the dies, and meansmovablewiththe d es and engaged by the cams for transmlttmg movementbetween the'cams and dies, said dies being I composed ofrelativelyadjustable parts, one 55.

carrying, the means which are engaged by the cam and the secondbeingbetween sald partiand the mandrel.v

r 4. In a machine for forming storage battery jars and the like, a bed,a mandrel, rams or dies arranged opposite the faces of the mandrel andadapted to compress material against the faces thereof, rotary *cams foractuating part of the dies, means on both sides of and adapted to beengaged bythe cams'and movable with the dies for causing 'thedies tobepositively moved forward and rearward relatively to the mandrel, themeans carried byeach die adapted to be engaged by a cam being adjustablerelative to the part of the .die which compresses the material.

- 5. In a machine for'forming'storage battery jars, a mandrel, (liesarranged opposite the faces of the mandrel, die, carriers for the dies,each carrier composed of a-pair of relatively adjustable parts, :andpower meansengagmg one of said parts of each of certain of the dles toactuate the same a predetermined distance.

(i. In a machine for forming storage'battelars, a mandrel, dies arrangedopposite the. faces "of the-mandrel, vdie carriers for the dies, each'carricr composed of-a pairv of relatively adjustable parts, one'of.said

parts carrying the die, means adapted to ranged in, pairs with the diesof each pair facing each other'and movable lengthwise of saidguldi'zways forwardly or nwardly and rearwardly or outwardly. a diecarrier for each die. each die carrier being com posed ofnormallyrelatively fixed parts, and means for adjusting the relativeposie tions of said parts.

8. In a machine for forming storage battery jars and the like, ahorizontal bed, a

plurality of guidew'ays in the bed, dies 2LI,'

ranged in pairs with the dies of each pair facmgeach other and movablelengthwise of said guideways forwardly or inwardly and rearwardly oroutwardly, a die carrier for each die, each carrier being composed of"relatively adjustable parts, the die being connected to one of saidparts, and means operatively associated with the other parts foractuating the same. a a

9. In a machine vfor forming storage battery jars, a mandrel, diesmovable towardand from the faces of i the mandrel and adapted tocompress material applied to the faces of the, mandreLsaid' dies havingspring metal faces, the latter having cutting edges adaptedtoprojectbeyond the sides of the die y j V v 10. In a: machinefor forming storagebattery jars and the like, .a plurality of dies adapted to compressmaterial appliedto the faces of a mandrel, spring metal faces carried bysaid dies arranged so as to cut off surplus rubber when the dies aremoved in-- wardly toward the mandrel. 11,111 a jar forming machine, a'bed, a

.to be compressed to form'a jar, a plurality of guideways, a pluralit ofdies, die carriers movable in the gui ewa '5, one of the dies beingmanually movable orwardly and rearwardly, means for looking or holdingsaid die in its forward positlon, a power operatedcmeans for moving theother dies predetermined or fixed distances.

12. In a jar forming machine, a bed, a mandrel against which material isadapted to be compressed to form'a jar, a plurality of guideways, aplurality of dies, die carmovable die havin riers movable in theguideways, one ofthe dies being manually movable forwardly andrearwardly, means for holding said die in its forward position, a poweroperated means for moving the other dies predetermined or fixeddistances, said manually a portion associated therewith constituting asupport for the mandrel.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

! THEODORE. A. WILLARD.

